Absolutely.  The Rave was specifically designed for what is known as "protected water" which is exactly what you have described.  Catamarans are usually designed as "surf punchers" but that is not the Rave's forte nor does it pretend to be.  The ironic thing is that the structure of the Rave is much more robust than a cat in order to withstand the high forces generated during foiling.  The amas (the two outer hulls) are not designed to take a hard wave from the side, so protected water is the best, safest, and most fun place to sail a Rave.

2. Is there any special skill required? I have sailing experience andhave a kealboat certification but have never been on a multihull.

 

There are two different camps regarding the Rave as a first boat: (1) Are you out of your mind?, and (2) The boat is so stable and easy to sail, why not?.  I was once in the first camp.  After the first year with my boat I began to see the merits of the Rave as a first boat, but yes, there is some merit to those who will think you are out of your mind.

Yes.  It takes some experience to fly but I have written some instructions to make the learning a little easier.  See the link at the bottom of this page. 

 

The good thing about a Rave is that you don't have to fly if you don't want to.  You can remain "hullborne" while learning the boat.  We do not recommend trying to fly right off the bat.  If you understand some basic principles about sailing you will do well the first day in the pilot's seat.  The boat can be powerful but if you feel taxed, like any other sailboat, head up into the wind to slow down and to dump some power from the mainsail or simply let the mainsail out to reduce horsepower.  It's not quite that simple all the time, but close. 

Any boat of this length is going to feel powerful in the hands of a novice sailor so that is not a unique trait of the Rave.  Any boat of this length is not as easily handled as the Rave is on the water.  No other boat can be brought down with flaps when a hull comes out of the water and makes the novice pilot nervous.  No other boat can be sailed flat.  Multihulls lift their hulls.  The Rave is designed to be sailed flat and the flaps can keep the boat that way.  That is a lot of comfort to a new pilot.

3. A big reason i am looking at the rave is because of the speed it seems to get ... is it faster than your melges? does it need alot of wind? 

There is a chart in the manual on the Windrider Rave forum (the URL is listed at the bottom of this letter).  Download that manual (.pdf) and see the chart for the weight of the pilot and passenger and the speed needed for liftoff.  I weigh 152 lbs. and at 12mph the Rave rears her bows and heads toward 20mph.  More wind can take the boat to 35mph.  You can pass a jetski on a Rave.

 

The Melges 17 is a very fast scow but nothing, nothing of it's size has the speed potential of the Rave.  A Hobie Trifoiler can match the speed, almost, but it is thought by some to be a fragile boat.  I can put you in touch with a former Trifoiler owner who now owns a Rave if you want to talk with him.

4. Do you launch it from the beach.... how much knowledge/time isneeded to assemble it?
It takes about 45 min. to assemble after you know what goes where.  It is a complicated boat when compared to any other boat's assembly, but no other boat can fly except the French Hydroptere and it costs about $14 million U.S.

 

The manual can show you how to assemble but my boat has more on it to make life on board easier so there's a little more to know for my Rave.  No, it ain't simple, but if you have a place to leave it assembled for the summer that is the ideal situation.  I will not gloss over this point:  the Rave is much more to assemble than any boat out there.  After you've done it three times it's no big deal but my trailer makes it as easy as it can be.  The stock trailer left a lot to be desired in my opinion.  After you see the assembly, and I would not expect you to further consider the boat until you do, you may have your decision made for you about having the boat.  

 

A beach launch is perfect for any multihull.  My custom trailer allows you to assemble the boat on the trailer, back the trailer and boat into the water down a beach or a ramp, extend the "legs", the foils, on the boat, and drive the trailer out from underneath the boat.  You pull the lines to the foils to let them down on the beach or the water and push the boat out.  Walk it over to a beach to raise the sails.  You will need a beach or some very shallow water to raise sails because the boat will need to be headed into the wind in order to raise the sails.

5. When you say your wife is not involved ... the second seat is justfor passengers then? don't control any sheets?

Nope.  All sheets and control lines lead to the pilot's seat.  It drive's my wife crazy that she didn't have much to do.  I thought she was tired of hearing my orders.  Years later I discovered she was simply silent because I fell so deeply in love with the boat.  That seat in front is simply a passenger seat or for groceries; like the back seat in some of th sports cars I've owned.

6. What is involved in maintaining the boat? what do you do towinterize, etc?

OK.  Here's something that may sound scary but it's not a big thing.  The boat aluminum structure contracts at a different rate than the high density polyethylene hull.  That contraction differential can produce a crack across the stern in some very, very cold temperatures, like those in Maine in January.  It seems to happen only in the nothern climes that experience very low winter temps.  How low?  We don't know.  The crack, as bad as it sounds, is very easily fixed because high density polyethylene is as pliable as warm butter when heated with glancing blows of a propane torch.  Any good kayak shop could make the repair.  There is a "cold weather" fix that is also mentioned on the forum with photos to help you understand but, if you can, don't leave this boat outside during New York state winters.  It's a special boat that should be stored inside in really cold climates.

7. Is there room for storage?
Not much.  There's a little room forward of the steering pedals and some forward of the passenger seat.  You can use that seat if there's no passenger.  Even so, a Rave makes a great daysailer.

8. Is the boat anchorable?
Absolutely, and I would recommend finding the proper anchor for the bottom of your water.

Some questions about the boat:
1. Do you have a trailer that goes along with the boat?
Yes.  It's one of two custom trailers that were made by the first dealer of the boat in Port St. Lucie, FL.  My trailer makes it easier to launch and retrieve.  You simply drive out from under the trailer and then let the boat down on it.  Also, the custom trailer allows the boat to be towed with the bowsprit attached which saves a lot of assembly time.\par

2. Have you ever run aground?
Nope. I read charts, but I know a fellow owner who ran up on a sandbar at around 25mph.  He bent an ama foil a little.  The witnesses said that a Trifoiler would have been totaled.  The Rave is the sturdiest boat I've ever owned. Once again, it has to be sturdy to withstand the high forces generated on the frame during foiling.

3. Are their any patches/repairs that have been made to the boat?
Zip. None. Nada.  This boat has been babied to a ridiculous standard.  The stock mainsail has a couple of patches, so I bought a new sail that's been out twice.  There's also a brand new jib that's never seen wind.
 
4. Are there any problems I should be aware of?

Heck yeah, but there are none regarding the boat.  As mentioned, if you can't lift much, forget this boat.  If you want to lose weight, get this boat.  If you have a weak heart, don't get this boat.  If you don't have a launch that is 21 feet wide or a beach that you cannot launch onto, or nowhere to get the boat launched by a crane (typical at yacht clubs) don't get this boat.

5. Is there any work that needs to be done to the boat?

I am rolling on the floor laughing because this boat has been a huge part of my life for the past six or seven years.  When anything went wrong or could be improved no money was spared to do it.  The uphaul crane bases alone costs me $60 apiece to have machined from a solid aluminum billet.  I designed them myself in AutoCAD.  There are touches like that all over the boat.

6. What extras do you have on the boat?
The best foil uphaul system that allows the pilot to lift the foils from the cockpit which is necessary when going into shore.  Includes custom cranes made from NASA surplus.  They were prototype struts meant for the space station.  We lived in Orlando about 45 min. from Cape Canaveral and I had access to a lot of NASA surplus at a surplus store.
All lines and sheets are some very expensive stuff.
All blocks are the best Harken.
Sails:  The optional screacher, bowsprit and hardware, Stock mainsail with patches and a new mainsail that's been used twice, a good jib and a brand new jib.
Custom mount at top of mast for a windvane.
Custom swaged steering cables
Passenger seat moved aft 5 1/2" for more room for the passenger and better weight distribution.  Reversible if you wish to take that seat back to the original position.
Floatation bags in amas.
Custom maded trampolines that cost me an arm and a leg.  The stock tramps were a little flimsy for my taste.
Wand delatchers (factory option) for reducing drag on the ama's foils flaps
Teflon wear plates in the rudder foil box.  Bolted in for easy replacement.  (Stock wear plates were nylon plates riveted into the box.)
A slightly higher joystick that makes it easier to move fore and aft.
A new rudder control cable and a spare still in the box.
Rubber decking on the main beam for better footing.
Vectran control lines for the foil uphauls.
Upgraded main halyard
Redesigned downhaul using brass sheaves.  The stock nylon sheaves would burn through after the first couple of mainsail hoists.
A spare rudder which would be about $400 if you could find one.

7. What are the specs of the boat?
Specs are on another page on this website and the year is a '99. 

And finally of course.... How much are you asking for the boat with orwithout the trailer if there is a difference?

No difference in price with or without the trailer.  For all the extra stuff the price is a steal.  There are boats out there for around $6k but they certainly will not come with all I'm tossing in and I'm tossing it in because I certainly can't use it after the boat is gone and I want the next owner to have an easy time to live with the Rave.  So, if you want a Rave for $6k I know they're out there.  I simply have a lot of spares and improvements on this boat for a little extra.

Now, about the forum.  We talk of all kinds of scary stuff on the forum.  Don't let that frighten you.  When we have a problem we go to the forum.  When we have fun we don't always sit down and write happy missals to each other.  Ask the other guys the same questions and see what they say.  We are very honest and up-front about these boats because they were not made for the ordinary sailboat, or multihull owner, but it is a very special boat to own and there is no other sailing experience that can come close to the feeling of flying.

I've told you some good news and some bad news.  Hey, it's a sailboat!  Whadja expect!

 

Now, to learn how to fly go to the page titled "How To Fly A Windrider Rave" or go to the forum below for the same lesson and much more.
http://www.windriderforum.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=407\par